Shipping container



Feb- 16, 1943. scHwARTzBERG 2,311,473

SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Dec. B, 19:57 sshee's-sheet 1 ZU I Feb- 16,1943. scHwARTzBl-:RG 2,311,473

SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Dec. 8, 1937 s sheets-sheet 2 I Il I Fel 15,1943. L. scHwARTzBERG 2,311,473

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"wunumm l@ I Zoazzfg 5c Patented Feb. 16, 1943 SHIPPING CONTAINER,

Louis Schwartzberg, Chicago, Ill., assigner, by direct and mesneassignments, to Carl W. Johnson, Glencoe, Ill., as trustee ApplicationDecember 8, 1937, Serial No. 178,644

2 Claims.

The invention relates to shipping containers and more particularly topacking devices for eggs and other fragile articles.

When eggs are packed in the conventional manner for shipping purposes,they are placed on their ends in a crate or container where they arearranged in tiers or layers. The crates usually contain thirty dozeneggs and are divided equally between two cubical compartments, eachhaving ve layers of eggs with three dozen eggs in each layer. The layersare separated from each other by flats and the top and bottom layers arecushioned from the top and bottom of each compartment by elements calledcushions. The eggs in each layer are partitioned off into individualcells by lattice ller and the cells of the several layers are arrangedin vertical columns.

It has been the custom in the trade to save the cushions, flats andfiller when unpacking a crate and return them to the shipper forrepeated use. To do this they are sorted and segregated as to kind, intotheir respective groups, and the members of each group are turned,inverted, and otherwise adjusted until all members in each group becomeassociated in a nested relationship. Thereafter the several nestedgroups may be bundled and tied for return to the shipper.

One of the objects of the present vinvention is to provide a packingelement which will serve equally Well for either a cushion or a flat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined cushion andflat which may be called a separator having offsets thereon forsupporting fragile articles against lateral displacement which will nestwith others like it, when any two edges coincide, no matter which sideis turned towards either side of the others.

Another object of the invention is to provide a separator of the classdescribed having matching nests upon both sides for supporting the topand bottom of fragile articles on both sides thereof and for supportingfiller placed around the eggs against lateral displacement at both thetop and bottom edges of the filler.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined cushion andflat separator having identical offsets upon both sides thereof servingoptionally to support fragile articles thereon, or to engage with anyone of the sides of a cubical egg crate compartment to support the eggsin spaced relationship with regard to that side.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined cushion and -atseparator for the cubical compartments 'of egg crates, which hasidentical contours upon both sides thereof, whereby a plurality of theseparators maybe handled without regard to particular sides or edgeswhen packing and unpacking the crates.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reversible unitaryseparator of .the class described supporting the columns of eggs in anegg crate independently of each other to prevent the collapse -of thesupports of other columns when one or more columns collapse either undera soaking received from a cracked egg or from the pressure exerted byseveral unusually large eggs being present in the same column.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of separatorsof the class described having identical forms which may be nested eightways to provide aeration between the separators to dry them and preservetheir shape.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved packing devicefor the shipment of eggs or other fragile articles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a packing member of theclass described which is simple in construction, thoroughly effective inits use, and inexpensive to manufacture.

These being among the `objects of the inv'en tion, other and furtherobjects will become apparent from the drawings herein, the descriptionrelating thereto and the appended claims,

Referring now to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View Iof a packing device for fragile articlesillustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken upon the line 2-2 of the embodimentshown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section similar to that shown in Fig. 2 showingseveral of said packing devices in nested relationship;

Fig. 4 is a partially sectional illustration of thepreferred embodimentshowing its use as a cushion;

Fig. 5 is a top plan of a packing device illustrating another embodimentof the invention;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6 5 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a plan of the four central nests of another embodiment of theinvention;

Fig. 8 is a plan similar to Fig. 7 showing another embodiment of theinvention;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatical plan in miniature of a separator such forexample as the separator of Fig. 1 illustrating certain featuresthereof;

Fig. 10 is a section similar to Fig. 3 showing several of the separatorsillustrated in Fig. 5 in nested relationship;

Fig. 11 is a partially sectional illustration of the illustration of theembodiment shown in Fig. in which said embodiment is used as a cushion;

Fig. 12 (sheet No. 1) is a tcp plan of another modification of neststructure;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged perspective View of the central four nests of theembodiment illustrated in Fig. 1;y and Fig. 14 is a top plan of theconstruction shown in Fig. 13 with the portions above and below theplane of the embodiment unshad-ed and shaded respectively.

Referring now to the drawings in further detail for a generalunderstanding of the invention, the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1comprises a square sheet IIJ made of a paper pulp or other fibrousmaterial by the well-known vacuum mould process with a thicknessapproximately uniform throughout, and provided with offset portions uponboth sides of the plane thereof. The sheet IIJ is preferably of a sizeadapted to t into the cubicle compartments I4 of standard egg crates I6,though it is not limited to that size or purpose.

Referring also to Figs. 13 and 14 in conjunction Ywith Fig. 1, it willbe observed that the offset portions just mentioned are in the form ofdomes I2 which are formed of converging sides terminating at-'apices IBlocated a predetermined distance above and below the plane of the sheetI6. Those portions II which are located above the plane 20 are unshadedin Fig. 14 and those portions I3 extending below the plane 20 areshaded, this shading expedient being employed in Fig. 14 for a `betterunderstanding of the other views contained inthe drawings, particularlyFig. 1 where the shadow lines conventionally employed in depicting depthmight be otherwise a little confusing.

The domes 'I2 on each side of the sheet are i grouped into nests ofthreeA domes each to provide support for eggs 24, and the nests onopposite sides of the sheet arepaired, a nest on one side beingimmediately opposite a nest on the opposite side of the sheet. EachVpair of Opposite nests thus forms a'siX-dome rosette.

In accordance with the structure of Figs. 1 to 4. the article supportingportions of the domes I2 comprise surfaces `of an ovoid of such sizethat the small end 26 of an egg 24 will'contact the three-articlesupporting surfaces 25 as well as the i'lat surface 28 centrallylocatedbetween them, but the large end 3U of an egg will Contact only thethree-article supporting surfaces 25 of the domes I2 and will not quitetouch the flat portion V28between them. These dimensions result in aminimum'height for a column of eggs in a crate consistent with a slightamount of yielding or cushioning between all of the superimposed eggs.The domes touching the bottom 32 and the top 34 of the crate I6 serve tocushion the entire column of eggs between them from the bottom 32 andcover 34 of the crate. The degree of inclination of the surfaces 25andtheir shapes or positions may be varied, as desired, to cope with therequirements involved in the support of any one of a number of variousshapes of fragile articles with which the sheet may be used.

TWO of the sides'36 ofr each dome I2 in Figs. 1 to 4 have a structuralrelationship growing out of the fact that the six domes making up eachVpair of immediately 'opposite nests 22 arealternately positioned andspaced around their mutual center 38 so that each dome on either side islocated between two domes of the nest on the other side ofthe sheet.These two sides 36 are flat and constitute uniplanar continuations,respectively, of the two adjacent sides 36 of the two domes alternatetherewith upon the other side of the sheet, and the opposite two sides36 of said two alternate domes are coplanar with each other.

In this way, with three domes to a nest, and six domes to a pair ofoppositely facing nests, all of the fiat sides 36 of the domes in bothnests fall within three planes. These planes intersect one another atthe center 38 of the two nests and intersect the plane of the eld of thesheet I6 along three intersecting lines 40 diametral to the nests,whereby a radial rigi-dity much like v spokes in a wheel, is providedfor each pair of opposite nests by the uniplanar portions of materialdefining the three diametral lines 40.

Moreover, the three planes of the dome sides 36 intersect the ovoid axis42 at an angle appren ciably less than degrees, so that there is adirect, substantially edge-wise support between the article supportingsurfaces 25 of the nests, and the apices of the opposite domes l2 whichrest upon the bottom 32 or contact with the cover 34 of an egg crate IS.

The three ,planes ofithe dome sid-es 36 are also so inclined withrespect to the plane 20 of the sheet IB that a proper nesting of theseveral sheets is assured, without binding or sticking together whenthey are being separated. Moreover, since the sides of the domes are ofapproximately the same thickness as the sheet, and since the severalnests of the respective sheets mate in nesting relationship alonginclined faces 36, the iiat body portions M of the sheet I0 are heldapart an appreciable distancerproviding a space 46` throughv which airmay circulate to dry the sheets. This aeration takes place while themating portions of the nests of different sheets mutually preserve4theirshape, so that such of those nests which-V may have become damp-orsoakedrfrom cracked eggs or other causes, `will be re-formed by drymating nests to their original s `contour and dried while held in thatshape.

4In the modification shownin Fig. 12 the domes 50 are made narrower thanin Figs. 1 to 4 so that wedge-shaped portions 52 lying in the-plane ofthe sheet 54 separate Athe side walls 56 of the domes ofthe oppositesides of the cushion. This arrangement provides less rigidity than inthe cushions in which the sidewalls of adjacent domes on opposite sides36 of the sheet are coplanar.`

It will be observed that two nests will mate in nesting relationship inas many relative positionsras there are diametral lines 40, such asthose described for the nests having three domes apiece. In the case ofthe nests having three domes, by way of example, each dome of a nest onone sheet will mate between two domes of a nest on the other sheet in anested relationship in three different relative positions as determinedby the projected coincidence of corresponding diametrallines 40 of bothnests. This is further explained by the fact that each pair of oppositenests upon a given sheet are reversely symmetrical on each side of theirdiametral lines 40.

With the nesting characteristics of the individual nests in mind, itwill be well to turn at this time to the grouping of the nests on thesheet I6 wherein the nests 22 are grouped and distributed over the faceof both sides of the sheet I0 according to a predetermined pattern aboutthe system of fixed rectilineal coordinate axes of the sheet. Thegrouping is identical for both sides of the sheet and the description ofone side will suffice for an understanding of the structuralcharacteristics of both. it being remembered that the nests upon bothsides are reversely symmetrical about their diametral lines 40 with thenests immediately opposite on the other side.

Referring now tothe illustrative diagram of Fig. 9 in this connection,it will be noted that a square sheet 60 is divided by its coordinateaxes, namely, the diagonals B2 and apothems 64 into eight equallysimilar parts, four shaded 66 and four unshaded 68. The parts in each ofthe two sets are identical with the other parts in that set and theparts in one set are symmetrically opposed to the parts in :the otherset upon opposite sides of each of the coordinate axes. In addition tothis, the eight parts may be paired in two dierent ways to form two setsof identical quadrants, namely, square and triangular ones '.13 and 'l2respectively. Adjacent Vsquare quadrants 'I0 are symmetrically opposedabout the apothems 64 and the adjacent triangular quadrants T2 aresymmetrically opposedabout the diagonals 62.

Consequently, whichever way the sheet 6! is turned, whether side forside, edge for edge, or corner for corner, the sheet assumes, for allpractical purposes, identical appearances for all positions and would beidentical with, or match with, any other like sheet superimposed thereonwith any two edges coinciding.

It is important that one of the diametral lines 40 of all nests lying onthe diagonals 62 of the square sheet shall be coincident with suchdiagonal so that the whole sheet may be turned over on either diagonal62 or any apothem 64 Without disturbing registration and nesting withthe sheet below.

If any of the nests fall on any of the apothems 64 of the square sheet6U or I0, it is important that the diametral lines 40 of such nestsshall coincide with such apothem so that the whole sheet may be turnedover on any apothem at an axis without disturbing registration andnesting with the sheet below.

All nests lying between diagonals and apothems must have all of :theirdomes reversely symmetrically located with respect to the correspondingnests on the other sides of such diagonals and apothems in order thatall of the nests of a sheet will properly register with all of the nestsof the sheet below in any one of the eight ways in which two squaresheets may be placed together with their edges coincident.

Separators constructed according to the invention may be thrown into aheterogeneous pile and later picked up in great numbers, bounced ontheir edges until any two edges coincide. Thereupon they are located innesting coincidence and when pressed together and tied in a bundle,:they will be held in a nesting relationship within the intents andpurposes of the invention without further attention or care.

In use, it has already been pointed out that the separators support theeggs in columns with the eggs directly above each other. In addition tothis, the several nests distributed over both sides of the sheet providespace 14 between them upon both sides of the sheet for the reception ofthe edges of the walls of the lattice filler 16 therebetween and againstthe uniplanar portions of the sheet. Since the nests are arranged alongsets of parallel lines intersecting each other at right angles, it willbe appreciated that the spaces T4 between adjacent nests afford two setsof intersecting rectilinear portions for the reception ofttheconventional'iller upon both sides of and in contact with the uniplanarsurfaces of each sheet.

Moreover, the domes i2 being identical upon both sides of the sheet, theller It is held in place both top and bottom, so that there will be noslithering of layers and the resultant damage to the contents when apacking crate is jarred or bumped by severe or repeated blows such as itreceives from time t0 time in handling and chipping operations.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5,6, 10 and 11, a sheet Eil is shown with identical oiTset portions 82somewhat conical in shape and identically arranged upon opposite sidesthereof. However, in this embodiment there is only one oilset for eachcell of the ller 'i6 and the onset cooperates with the iiller inconjunction with other offsets upon both sides to hold the filler wallsin place both top and bottom. In this particular embodiment the eggsrest upon the flat portions 86 of the sheet and each sheet has aneight-way universal nesting relationship with others like it. It will ceobserved that the offsets are distributed and arranged for thisuniversal nesting along the coordinate axes of the sheet in a mannersimilar to sheet lil illustrated in Fig. l. This particular embodimentillustrates the possible use of one oiset in each compartment forholding the filler in shape, both top and bottom, without attentionbeing given to the support of the articles in each compartment of thefiller beyond holding the ller in correct position so that the articlesupported therein will be held in place by the filler itself. The sheetwill be held away from both the bottom 32 and top 34 of an egg crate I6by the offsets on the under side of the lower sheet and those on theupper side of the top sheet.

A nest construction having four domes 83 to a nest is illustrated inFig. 8 and o-ne having two domes 90 to a nest is illustrated in Fig. '7.It will be observed that these nests, like the preferred three-dome`nests, are reversely symmetrical about diametral lines i0 of reversedsymmetry and are reversely symmetrical with others like them which areeither quarter-turned or halfturned around their axes, whereby thesemodifications may also be employed with a sheet serving either as a ator as a cushion in the cubicle compartments of egg crates and forsupporting other fragile articles.

The particular domes illustrated in the two and four-dome nests areformed with differently shaped outer faces 92 thereof and it will beappreciated by those skilled in the art that any suitable contour forthe domes may be employed, provided it has sufficient internal rigidityfor the purposes intended and is identical for all domes employed on anyparticular sheet.

Consequently, it will be appreciated that the invention provides animproved packing device for the shipment of eggs or other fragilearticles which will serve equally Well for a cushion or at to supportthe columns of eggs in an egg crate independently of each other and holdthe rlller in place around the eggs both at the top and bottom thereof.Moreover, the invention provides a separator having an eight-wayuniversal nesting relationship with others like it to facilitate thepacking and unpacking of egg crates, the aeration and drying of theseveral separators in nested relationship and a separator which issimple in construction, thoroughly effective in its use and inexpensiveto manufacture.

In using the phrase eight-way universal nesting, I have used the termuniversal in its practical applied sense, rather than in its absolutesense. In practice there are only eight different positions in which onesquare sheet can be arranged relative to a like underlying sheet in asquare stack of such sheets: four angular positions with one side up andfour angular positions with the other side up. My sheets will internestin any of these eight relationships. Thus they provide an eight-wayuniversal nesting.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatvarious and further uses, modifications and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and substance of the invention, the scope ofwhich is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed, is:

l. In a cushion for an egg crate, a member having groups o-f domesextending downwardly and upwardly, each group of ydomes being within theconfines of the downward projection of the compartment allotted one eggand independent of other groups of downwardly extending domes, thedownwardly extending domes resting upon the bottom of the crate and theupwardly extending domes positioning an egg centrally above saiddownwardly extending `domes, a central part within each group of domeslying in the plane of said member, each dome having a wall slopingtoward and integrally connecting with the central part, and each domehaving two substantially flat walls, each in common with one wall ofeach of two domes on the opposite side of said member, said downwardly`extending domes being positioned radially around the center of theprojection of said compartment, said downwardly extending domesspreading-radially under downward pressure whereby said vegg isyieldingly supported and cushioned in said crate independently oflatterly adjacent eggs.

2. A generally square sheet 'for'use as either an interlayer separatoror an end cushion in multilayer shipping of fragile articles, such aseggs, the sheet having a multiplicity of longitudinally and laterallyspaced rosettes formed therein, each rosette being formed by a set ofportions 0f the sheet offset both above and below the eld of the sheet,which portions, when the sheet is used as a separator, engage articleson the respective sides of the sheet and engage and positioninter-separator fillers on the respective sides of the sheet, and whichportions, when the sheet is used as an end cushion, thus engage thearticles and fillers on one side and serve as feet on the other side,vthe rosettes themselves being of form internesting either side up, andthe rosettes being so placed upon the sheet that the sheet willinternest with a like sheet in any of the eight possible positionsrelative to the like sheet in a square stack of like sheets.

LOUIS SCHWARTZBERG.

